Post job

Explore jobs

Find specific jobs

Explore careers

Explore professions

Best companies

Explore companies

OverviewJobsSalaryResume

Skills

What They DoDemographicsJob DescriptionHow To HireBest CompaniesBest StatesBest CitiesJob OutlookCompareEntry Level jobsFull Time jobs
zippia ai icon

Automatically apply for jobs with Zippia

Upload your resume to get started.

Manual machinist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Miles Free
Manual machinist example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical manual machinist skills. We ranked the top skills for manual machinists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 10.3% of manual machinist resumes contained grinders as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a manual machinist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 manual machinist skills for your resume and career

1. Grinders

Here's how manual machinists use grinders:
  • Machined parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, boring bar, and grinders.
  • Skilled in the operation and maintenance of all manual machinery such as mills, lathes, grinders and drill presses.

2. Calipers

Here's how manual machinists use calipers:
  • Machined parts to specific calibrated dimensions and tolerances, using instruments such as micrometers and vernier calipers.
  • Calculated dimensions or tolerances, using instruments such as micrometers or vernier calipers.

3. CNC

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. It is a subtractive manufacturing technique that usually uses computerized controls and machine tools to strip layers of material from a stock piece.

Here's how manual machinists use cnc:
  • Set up various fixtures, vices, and molds, in the CNC mill as well as indicating when needed.
  • Squared all material for CNC operators, kept track or material, ran CNC now and again when needed.

4. ID

Here's how manual machinists use id:
  • Cut length, OD, ID, threads, dovetails, and slots in various tubes and rods.
  • Single point threading (OD/ID -Straight and taper) Ship&Rec.

5. Machine Shop

Here's how manual machinists use machine shop:
  • Perform routine scheduled preventive maintenance on all machine shop machinery.
  • Coordinated machine shop and machining procedures for engineering team.

6. Hand Tools

Here's how manual machinists use hand tools:
  • Used measuring devices and various hand tools to complete each job and to maintain a high level of quality.
  • Task involved the use of various standard shop machines, hand tools, air tools.

Choose from 10+ customizable manual machinist resume templates

Build a professional manual machinist resume in minutes. Our AI resume writing assistant will guide you through every step of the process, and you can choose from 10+ resume templates to create your manual machinist resume.

7. Math

Here's how manual machinists use math:
  • Shop math - feeds & speeds - right angle trigonometry.
  • Position required shop math, ability to use moderately complex mathematics and handbook formulas.

8. Manual Machines

Here's how manual machinists use manual machines:
  • Operated production equipment manufacturing high precision parts using manual machines.
  • Set up and operate manual machines to produce quality parts to blue print specification Tool and die, welding, metal fabrication

9. Drill Press

A drill press refers to a device used to produce holes in hard substances. When drilling the holes, you need to clamp the workpiece on a table and hold the drill in a rotating spindle and feed it into the workpiece.

Here's how manual machinists use drill press:
  • Trained in usage of equipment such as Summit Lathe: 4 and 3 Jaw, Hydraulic Press, Drill Press.
  • Machine parts to specifications using machine tools such using various types of lathes/mills/drill presses per blueprint and customer satisfaction.

10. Cranes

Here's how manual machinists use cranes:
  • Created Boom Hoist's, Crane Hinges, and a variety of tools for the assembly of Airplanes.
  • Worked closely with maintenance department performing rebuilds of press brakes, crane gear boxes, and plate straighteners.

11. Horizontal Boring Mills

Here's how manual machinists use horizontal boring mills:
  • Operated manual horizontal boring mills.
  • Operated 4" and 5" manual horizontal boring mills.

12. Aerospace

Aerospace refers to the physical science focusing on designing and developing, testing, and producing systems that aid in navigation to space or traverse through the earth's atmospheric zone.

Here's how manual machinists use aerospace:
  • Started working for SKF in 2010 and was introduced the aerospace industry.
  • Work consisted of commercial, aerospace, and modification.

13. Aluminum

Aluminum is the most common nonferrous metal and the most prevalent metallic material in the Earth's crust. Aluminum is never found in its metallic form in nature, but its compounds can be found in varying degrees in nearly all minerals, vegetation, and animals. Cans, foils, cooking utensils, door frames, kegs, and aeroplane pieces are all made of aluminum.

Here's how manual machinists use aluminum:
  • Work with tolerances within +/- 0002, parts vary in material from magnesium, aluminum, titanium, and different alloys.
  • Measured and assembled sewing control panel frames of various material (stainless steel, carbon and aluminum).

14. Print Specifications

Here's how manual machinists use print specifications:
  • Worked in production department manufacturing machine parts for other machinery to blueprint specifications.
  • Perform inspection on parts to ensure machine parts to match tolerances from print specifications.

15. Surface Grinders

Surface grinders are power tools that are used to grind surfaces of materials to make them smooth

Here's how manual machinists use surface grinders:
  • Experience using vertical and horizontal millers, lathes including VTL, surface grinders, boring mill, and industrial x-ray machines.
  • Set up and operate CNC 3 axis surface grinders, CNC 5 axis CBN machines, and manual vertical boring mill.
top-skills

What skills help Manual Machinists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What type of skills will young manual machinists need?

Miles FreeMiles Free LinkedIn profile

Director, Industry Affairs, Precision Machined Products Association

Skills are essential, but most of our precision machining shops hire for attitude. We will help reliable candidates develop the skills that they need. If we look at employers having wants and needs: want - someone that knows their software. Needs - someone that knows how to adjust code; we'll teach them our software. Wants - excellent math skills. Requires the ability to do high school algebra, geometry, and trig.

Needs - people that can communicate an issue verbally and in writing.
That's where we see it. Critical thinking, ability to understand problems and their potential causes, ability to work well with others, without this, even a super-competent technically skilled person will probably find themselves changing jobs many times.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about manual machinist

List of manual machinist skills to add to your resume

Manual machinist skills

The most important skills for a manual machinist resume and required skills for a manual machinist to have include:

  • Grinders
  • Calipers
  • CNC
  • ID
  • Machine Shop
  • Hand Tools
  • Math
  • Manual Machines
  • Drill Press
  • Cranes
  • Horizontal Boring Mills
  • Aerospace
  • Aluminum
  • Print Specifications
  • Surface Grinders
  • Shop Mathematics
  • Stainless Steel
  • Manual Mill
  • Jigs
  • Tig Welding
  • Overhead Cranes
  • Precision Tools
  • Reference Points
  • Band Saws
  • MIG
  • Preventive Maintenance
  • Hydraulic Press
  • Dial Indicators
  • VTL
  • Carbon Steel
  • ISO
  • Detect Defects
  • Vernier Calipers
  • API
  • Jig Borers
  • Perform Routine Maintenance
  • Grinding Machines
  • Customer Specifications
  • OD
  • TIG
  • Precision Instruments
  • Comparators
  • Hoists
  • Boring Machines
  • Manual Engine Lathe

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse production and manufacturing jobs